New Equinox Bigger and Better than Outgoing Tracker
If there was ever any question that the Chevrolet Equinox would be a more upscale sport-cute than the slow-selling Tracker it replaces in the Chevrolet lineup, the answer is at hand.
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| Showing up at dealerships this spring, the sharp looking Equinox will replace the slow-selling Tracker. (Photo: General Motors) |
GM of Canada says the 2005 Equinox will start at $26,560 for a base front-drive model and $29,170 for a base all-wheel-drive model, excluding applicable taxes and freight.
GM hasn't sold a front-drive version of the Tracker for some time, but there was a four-door, all-wheel-drive hardtop with an I-four engine for $22,755 in 2003. GM dropped that low-price model for 2004 and began Tracker pricing at $25,605 for a four-door, AWD, V6-powered model.
Equinox will come from the same assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, by the way, but its 3.4-litre V6 will come from a GM plant in China and be mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. It will start to show up in dealerships across Canada this spring.
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| GM says that the Equinox will set a new standard for compact SUV functionality and refinement. (Photo: General Motors) |
Clearly, Oshawa has been trying to acclimatize sport-cute buyers to the new reality of Equinox, which does include a much bigger and better vehicle.
Mike Speranzini, GM of Canada's marketing manager for crossover utilities and compact vans, says the Equinox "sets new standards for compact SUV functionality. Its crossover-based architecture responds to customers who need more refinement, enhanced ride and handling, and increased comfort."
The five-passenger Equinox will come equipped with air conditioning, remote keyless entry, power door locks, windows and mirrors, an innovative rear "Multi-Flex" seating system, a multilevel cargo panel system, and more.